Fat Face RS FevaXL Circruit at Emsworth Sailing Club

Fat Face RS FevaXL Circruit at Emsworth Sailing Club © James Lavery

Feva’d racing at Emsworth

The first round of the RS FevaXL Fat Face racing Circuit took place last weekend on the upper reaches of Chichester Harbour. 26 boats, 8 races, glorious sun, and some pleasant light to moderate breeze were the salient features of the event. Several hot teams fresh from the Optimist fleet joined many parent/child teams for some real nip and tuck racing with the overall result going right down to the last race.

Frances Peters and Olivia Pettit from Hayling Island SC set their stall in the opening race with a win and followed it with 2 2nds and OCS to lead overnight. Local guru and RYA racing supremo John Derbyshire sailing with son Harry notched in 4,1,4, narrowly holding off Oppie sailors Alex Ekstrom / Ed Whitehouse, from Bowmoor, and Alec Henry / Henry Maxfield, from HISC.

Sunday looked gloomier, and definitely doubtful on the wind front, but racing got underway on time, and the wind gods eventually smiled. Frances and Olivia, sailing their aptly named “Feva Divas”, choked in the fifth race with a ninth, sailed in the patchiest wind, but regained the lead overall with 2 wins in the sixth and seventh races. The competition was hard on their heels though, Alec and Henry had stayed consistent with 3,4,4, Jamie Knill and Mark Lees from Poole YC scored 5,2 in the fifth and sixth races, but sealed their fate in the seventh race with an 8. As John Derbyshire and various local crews slipped from favour with 7,7,2, so Feva designer Paul Handley and son Alastair moved up with 2,5,3.

And so to the last race. Alec and Henry lead from the outset to build a substantial lead, requiring Frances/Olivia to stay in the top 8. Finishing fifth, they maintained the lead to win the first ever Feva open. Paul and Alastair Handley held onto third overall from Jamie/Mark whilst John Derbyshire slipped to fifth overall. Finishing eighth overall, James Peters (10) and Peter Henry (12) from HISC were first juniors, struggling after losing a win in race 4 for an OCS.

Emsworth SC did everyone proud, reinforcing the friendly family feel to the fleet. Whilst the youngsters looked strong this time, the adults will no doubt put that experience to good effect at the next event. The racing was videoed and full debriefs were held following the racing by RYA coach Tracy Moss – a theme set to continue through the circuit, providing opportunity to work on some of those tricky techniques!

Overall Results: